Bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0.. ALEXANDER; -lW/. FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 485,159. Patented Nov. 1, 1892. Q Q

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ATTOR/VEK.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR ALEXANDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,159, dated November 1, 1892.

Application filed December 18.1891. Serial No. 415,539. (NO 111 1 To alt whom it nmy concern:

Be 1t known that I, OSCAR ALEXANDER,'a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bed- :teads, of which the following is a specificaion.

One feature of my invention consists in a novel means for automatically regulating the motion of the bed-bottom when it is unfolded, and dispensing with the weights or springs commonly used for that purpose; and another feature thereof consists in the construction of certain parts in sections to permit the same to be brought in a comparatively-small space or compass for convenience of transportation, storage, and cleaning.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front view when the bed-bottom is folded. Fig. 2 represents a like view when the bed-bottom is unfolded. Fig. 3 represents a vertical cross-section. Fig. 4 represents a plan or top view, partly in section. Fig. 5 represents a detail view of the regulating mechanism.

Similar letters of reference represent corresponding parts.

The letter A represents the base of the headframe, and A the sides thereof, extending upward from the base and separable therefrom.

0 indicates a sliding back fitted in vertical guideways B on the side of the head-frame,

and D indicates the bed-bottom. Said bottom D is hinged to the base A by suitable joints 6, Figs. 1 and 3, so as to swing from a folded to an unfolded position, or vice versa, in the usual manner, and the back 0' is hinged to the inner end of the bottom by joints f, so as to partake of the motion of the bottom, the back thus being lowered when the bottom is folded and raised when the bottom is unfolded.

To the inner end of the bed-bottom D are pivoted two friction-cams G, one at each side thereof, so as to swing in planes transversely to the bottom, the faces of which cams project beyond the sides of the bottom and engage with friction-surfaces I, which are firmly attached to the sides of the base A opposite the cams, the same being composed of strips of india-rubber, leather, or other similar material and usually curved in an arc of a circle whose axis isain the joints 6, as shown in Fig. 3. Each of the pivoted cams G is partly inclosed in a casing G, one edge of which forms a stop,'preventing the cam from swinging downward, while the opposite edge is cut away, as shown at the right hand of Fig. 5, permitting the cam to swing freely in an up ward direction. WVhen the bed-bottom D is adjusted to an unfolded position, the cams G have a tendency to swing downward, and by their engagement with the friction-surfacesl the cams operate to retard the motion of the bottom, thereby regulating such motion, while when the bottom is adjusted to a folded position the cams swing upward, and thus becoming disengaged from the friction-surfaces afford the desired freedom of motion to the bot tom. It may be here remarked that the easings G can be omitted, since the cams G by their eccentricity perform the required functions independently of the casings.

The bottom is madein two sections D D, which are divided vertically or longitudinally and hinged together at the opposite ends of the bottom by joints Z, Figs. 2, 4, and 5, so that when the bottom is detached from the head-- frame its sections may be folded upon each other, thus occupying a comparatively-small space. The sections D D" are retained in normal position when in use upon the bed by cross-pieces 0, Figs. 1 and 3, which in this example form the ends of a frame for a mirror J upon the outside of the bottom, said crosspiece being removably secured to the bottom by screws or other similar fastenings. Each section D D has a leg D for supporting the bottom in unfolded position.

To the sides of the bottom D are pivoted the brackets p of a foot-board, which like the bottom is made in two sections 19 19'', divided in the line of the sections of the bottom and hinged together by suitable joints, so as to fold up together with the bottom.

The sliding back 0 is made in sections 0', in this example four in number, which are divided horizontally and hinged together by jointss. By this construction of the back it is rendered flexible horizontally, and thus readily adapts itself to the vertical plane of the guideways Bin the motion of the bedbottom, while if the back be detached from the bottom its sections may be folded upon each other, thereby bringing the back into a com paratively-small space. A strip A Figs. 1 and 2, is attached to the head-frame A for covering the joint between it and the bedbottom.

By my construotion of the'bed I ean'sepa rate the parts from each other by first removing the glass J from the bed-bottom D; secondly, the bed-bottom D from the base A of the head-frame and fold the same, as heretofore described; thirdly, the sides A and back 0 from the bottomA and fold the same,which operation greatly reduces the bulk of bed, so that it'can be easily carried up and down stair- Ways and through narrow hallways, and also renders it easy of transportation and at the same time makes the cleaning of it very easy and effective.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding bed, the combination of the head-frame, the bed-bottom hinged thereto, the friction-cams pivoted to the bed-bottom at its sides to swing transversely to the bottom,

bed-bottom when it is unfolded, substantially asrherein described.

2. In a folding bed, the combinationof the head-frame, the bed-bottom hinged thereto and formed of two hinged sections divided longitudinally, the mirror-frame upon the outside of the bed-bottom with cross-pieces removably secured to the sections of the bottom, the foot-board hinged to the bed-bottom and formed of hinged sections, which are divided in the'liue of the sections of the bottom, the sliding back hinged to the bed-bottom and formed of hinged sections divided horizontally, and the vertical guideways for said back on the head-frame, the Whole adapted for use substantially as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

OSCAR ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. WAHLERS, FRANCIS O. BOWEN. 

